Gun mounting



GUN MOUNTING Filed Oct; 29. 1957 5 Shee'ts-Sheet l R O T N E V mol/r/ho' 40/? ATTORNEYS July 16, 1940. c. P. CAULKINS GUN MOUNTING FiledOct. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CeCz Z P (006 11275 BY M WATTORNEYS July 16, 1940. c. P. CAULKINS GUN MOUNTING Filed Oct. 29. 19375 Sheets-Sheet 3 Eu-Emu$5255822222555nmg nuu nmabmunnumE Qmmcncmcumngunuuuuuu un-Enuuunnnanuuununuuuuuunnmmn ill l INVENTOR Ce czZCaz/Z/rz'ns ATTORNEY y 16, 1940- c. P. CAULKINS 2,208,015

GUN MOUNTING Filed Oct. 29, 193'] 5 Sheets-"Sheet 4 INVENTOR (662'! PCm/Zkz'ms ATTORNEYS y 16, 1940- c. P. CAULKINS 2,208,015

GUN MOUNTING Filed 001;. 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORN EY PatentedJuly 16, 1940 Application October 29,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gun mountings.

Its object is to provide a light and effective gun support which may bereadily transported and quickly emplaced, by which all the forcesdeveloped by firing the gun are transmitted directly toward the groundplate or the trail, and which provides a sufficient range of elevationto make the gun adapted to both field and antiaircraft use. The partsare so disposed that the axis of the gun in its normal horizontalposition is close tothe ground. The various parts of the mount may beseparably connected so that they may be taken apart into muletransportable units.

Other objects will appear in the following specification in which I willdescribe certain structures which embody my invention, the novelfeatures of which I will point out in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gun mounting which is made according toand embodies the present invention. In this figure the parts are shownin one operative position by full lines and in another by broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, together with a pairof wheels indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation. partly in section, of some of the otherparts-shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, taken at right angles to the viewshown in Fig. 6, illustrating some of the parts of the latter figure;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but on a smaller scale, illustratingother positions of the parts;

Fig. 9 is another view like Fig. 8 showing still further positions ofthe parts;

Fig. 10 is an elevation, partly in section, of some of the parts shownin Fig. 9, shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the gun and its mounting supported ontransport wheels and connected to a towing vehicle;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the trail ground plate and spade shownin the preceding figures, together with a part of a trunnion plate whichis mounted on the ground plate;

1937, Serial No. 171,626

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the ground plate and of a trunnion plate withparts which are connected with it, illustrating a modified construction;and

Fig. 15 is a coupling which is used to connect the apparatus with atowing vehicle.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawmgs.

2B is a gun barrel. It is supported by yokes 2| and 22 which slide in acradle 30. The cradle is preferably built up of channel bars 31connected at their forward end by a housing 32 and at their rear end bya bracket 33. Their lower flanges are connected by a plate 34 upon whichthe yokes are supported. The plate 34 is grooved longitudinally to formtracks for lugs 23 at the base of the yokes (see Fig. 3). Angle bars 35,35 are aifixed to the upper flanges of the channel bars 3| to formguides for parts of the yoke which in Fig. 3 are designated by thenumerals 2d and 25.

The cradle and the yokes also support the recoil mechanism, parts ofwhich are shown but not described as they form no part of the presentinvention.

The bracket 33 at the rear end of the cradle is pivotally connected by atransverse pin 36 to upstanding lugs 3'. on a plate 33 which in turn ismounted to rotate about a vertical post 39. The post 39 rises from theground plate 40 which will be described later in detail.

Thus, the sole support for the rear end of the cradle is at theuniversal joint formed by the pin 36 and the post 39 which, it should menoted, is close to the ground and near the axis of the gun barrel.

The rest of the cradle and the parts which it carries is supported by ahousing 59 in which the channel bars 3! are slidably mounted (see Figs.6 and 7) 5i is a vertical pin which extends downwardly from housing 53.52 is a shoulder which rests on ball bearings on a bushing 53 in asecondary cross frame 60, shown in Fig. 6. 54 is an internally threadedboss which forms a part of housing 56. A transverse threaded shaft 55supported in lugs 6| on the cross frame runs through this boss. Thethreaded shaft is held against longitudinal movement, but may be rotatedthrough gearing 53 and a traversing hand wheel 57 to traverse housing 50and with it the cradle and the gun barrel.

The secondary cross frame further comprises grooved brackets 62 whichrun on arcuate guides T! which will be described presently. An elevatingmechanism is also mounted on this secondary cross frame 60. Thiscomprises a gear 63 in mesh with an arcuate rack 78, a worm and gearmechanism 64 and an elevating hand wheel 65.

10, 10 are side rods, on the rear ends of which are fittings H pivotallysupported in lugs 4| on the ground plate 40. Their pivots are in axialalinement with the pin 36. These side rods diverge and pass throughbearings 12 on a main cross frame, to internally threaded sockets 13.Elevating screws 14 pass through these sockets. The lower ends of theseelevating screws are connected by ball and socket joints with groundpads 15.

The main cross frame also comprises a pair of channel bars 16 to whichthe bearings 12, the arcuate tracks 11 and the .arcuate rack 18 areattached. 19 designates braces for the arcuate tracks.

The ground plate 40, in addition to the post 39 and the lugs G! whichhave been pointed out, has a spade 42 affixed to its forward end andstiffened by spaced brackets 43 in each of which is a hole 44. Theground plate is also provided with openings 45 through which stakes maybe driven, or cables inserted. V

80 (Figs. 11 and 15) is a coupling comprising two arms 8|, 8| brackets43 of the spade and having horizontal eyes to receive a transverse pin82 passed through them and through the holes in the brackets 43. Thearms 8! converge to a vertical eye 83 which is adapted to be placed overa pin 84 on a towing vehicle 85.

In order that the apparatus may be hauled from place to place, transportwheels 86, 86 are provided. These have stub axles 8! which fit intosockets 88 in members secured to the channel bars 16, T6 of the maincross frame, near their ends.

Before describing the parts shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 14, I will pointout the operation of the parts already described.

Upon reaching a desired location, the wheels are removed and the spade42 driven into the ground. The cradle then rests upon the ground plateand the ground pads 15. understood that for this purpose the elevatingscrews 14 are rotated a sufficient amount to cause the weight of theapparatus, other than that which is supported on the ground plate, to beequally borne by the two ground pads 15. The gun may then be used in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 1 in full lines, and in Figs. 2and 4. In any of its positions it may be traversed by rotating thethreaded shaft 55.

From this substantially horizontal position the gun may be elevated anydesired amount up to the position in which it is shown at 20A in Fig. 1by manipulation of the elevating hand wheel 65. For higher elevations,the elevating screws 14 are turned by some suitable means, such as acrank handle MA, until the cradle reaches the position in which it isshown in Fig. 8. Further elevation may be attained, up to the position203 indicated by broken lines, by manipulating the elevating hand wheel65.

For further stabilizing the mount when in the Fig. 8 position, braces 90are provided. These are pivoted to brackets 91 slidably mounted on theside rods 10 and arranged to be secured thereto by clamps 92. The otherends of these braces are pinned tolugs 15A on the ground pads 15.

adapted to fit between thev It is to be When not in use these braces aresupported in clips 93 on the side rods (Figs. 1 and 11).

To adapt the gun for anti-aircraft use, the arrangements shown in Figs.9, 10 and 14 are provided. Housings I00, having cylindrical bores, areapplied to the ends of the main cross frame by means of stub shafts IEHwhich fit into the wheel shaft sockets 88 and On which the housings arepivotally mounted. At the lower ends of the housings are hand wheels H32which have internally threaded hubs. Thrust bearings H33 are interposedbetween the housings mo and the hubs of the hand wheels. 504 areelevating screws with which the hand wheel hubs engage. On the lowerends of these elevating screws are brackets me which provide bearingsfor the axles of ground wheels I06 at right angles to the stub shaftsIDI. These brackets are arranged to receive the free ends of the braces93 which are pivotally connected to them.

By this arrangement the main cross frame may be elevated to the positionin which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 9 and the gun furtherelevated to the position ZilC indicated by broken lines.

For anti-aircraft use it is desirable to be able to traverse the gunthrough a complete circle, and to provide for such adjustment the groundplate 40A shown in Fig. 14 is used. The plate 38A which is mounted onthe post 39 and which carries the lugs 3l'for the cradle bracket 33 isin this case extended laterally and carries the lugs MA to which theends 1! of the side rods 10 are pivoted. Major adjustments may be madeby rolling the mount around on the ground wheels I06, and the fineradjustments for aiming, made by the mechanisms previously described.

It will be observed that the mounting disclosed herein is of simpleconstruction and very light weight. For those reasons it is easilyhandled and provides for every desired adjustment for the gun barrel.Its parts are so arranged that the gun may be operatively positionedclose to the ground. Furthermore, the forces developed by gun fire aretransmitted to the ground plate along lines which are also close to theground plate so that the tendency to upset is practically eliminated.

Many structural modifications may be made within the scope and spirit ofthis invention, and I intend no limitations other than those im' posedby the appended claims.

What I claim is: I

1. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods pivotallyconnected thereto and diverging therefrom, independent meansforelevating the ends of the side r'ods, a transverse main cross framesupported on intermediate parts of the side rods, a cradle universallypivoted atone end to the ground plate and with its other end sup-portedon the main cross frame, and means for laterally adjusting the cradleinrelation to said main cross frame.

2. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods pivotallyconnected thereto and diverging therefrom, independent means for"elevating the ends of the side rods, a transverse main cross framesupported on intermediate parts of the side rods, a cradle universallypivoted at one end to the ground plate and with its other end supportedon the main cross frame, means for laterally adjusting the cradle inrelation to said main cross frame, and means for elevating the cradle.

side rods pivotally connected thereto and divergging therefrom, a groundpad at the end of each side rod, independent vertically adjustable connections between the ends of the side rods and the ground pads, atransverse main cross frame supported on intermediate parts of the siderods, a secondary cross frame supported on the main cross frame andcomprising traversing mechanism, and a cradle universally pivoted at oneend to the ground plate and with its other end supported on saidtraversing mechanism.

4. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods pivotallyconnected thereto and diverging therefrom, a ground pad at the end ofeach side rod, independent vertically adjustable connections between theends of the side rods and the groundpads, a transverse main cross framesupported on intermediate parts of the side rods, a verticallyadjustable secondary cross frame supported on the main cross frame andcomprising traversing mechanism, and a cradle universally pivoted at oneend to the ground plate and with its other end supported on saidtraversing mechanism.

5, A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods divergingtherefrom, a ground pad at the end of each side rod, a main cross framesupported on intermediate parts of the side rods having arcuate sidebrackets, a secondary frame vertically adjustable in said brackets andcomprising a traversing mechanism, and a cradle universally pivoted atone end to the ground plate and supported on said traversing mechanism.

6. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods pivotallyconnected thereto and diverging therefrom, a ground pad at the end ofeach side rod, elevating screws between the ends of the side rods andthe ground pads, a main cross frame having arcuate side bracketssupported on intermediate parts of the side arms, a secondary crossframe vertically adjustable in said brackets and comprising a traversingmechanism, and a cradle universally pivoted at one end to the groundplate and supported on said traversing mechanism.

7. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods pivotallyconnected thereto and diverging therefrom, a ground pad at the end ofeach side rod, elevating screws between the ends of the side rods andthe ground pads, a main cross frame having arcuate side bracketssupported on intermediate parts of the side arms, a secondary crossframe vertically adjustable in said brackets and comprising a traversingmechanism, a cradle universally pivoted at one end to the ground plateand supported on said traversing mechanism, manual means for actuatingthe traversing mechanism, and manual means for controlling theadjustment of the secondary cross frame in said side brackets.

8. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods divergingtherefrom, means for supporting the side rods, a main cross framesupported on intermediate parts of the side rods having side bracketscomprising arcuate tracks, an arcuate rack in one of said brackets, asecondary frame mounted on said tracks having a gear engaging said rack,a transverse threaded shaft, and a cradle universally ivoted at one endto the ground plate and supported on said transverse shaft.

9. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods divergingtherefrom, elevating means for supporting the side rods, a main crossframe supported on intermediate parts of the side rods having sidebrackets comprising arcuate tracks, an arcuate rack in one of saidbrackets, a secondary frame mounted on said tracks having a gearengaging said rack, a transverse threaded shaft, a cradle universallypivoted at one end to the ground plate and supported on said transverseshaft, manual means for rotating the gear, and manual means for rotatingthe transverse shaft.

10. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate,

side rods pivotally connected thereto and diverging therefrom, a groundpad for each side rod,

an elevating screw between the end of each side rod and its ground pad,and detachable braces between intermediate parts of the side rods andthe ground pads.

11. A gun mounting comprising a ground plate, side rods divergingtherefrom, a ground pad at the end of each side rod, a main cross frameconnected to intermediate parts of the side rods having arcuate sidebrackets, a secondary frame Vertically adjustable in said brackets andcomprising a traversing mechanism, a cradle universally pivoted at oneend to the ground plate and supported on said traversing mechanism,elevating screws at the sides of the main cross frame, and groundrollers at the lower ends of L the elevating screws.

CECIL P. CAULKINS.

